This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
METRO Property Group has bought the Bingara Gorge golf course and a development parcel from Lendlease, adding to its $225 million purchase of the adjoining housing estate last year.
Metro’s new purchase includes an 18-hole golf course, designed by ex-PGA professional Graham Marsh and sprawling across 90 hectares, while the 4,760 sqm land site will be used for a country club and parking.
The Bingara Gorge master-planned community in Wilton, in Sydney’s south west, was launched in 2008. Lendlease has developed 900 lots, and the remaining 900 will be developed by Metro.
“Metro purchased these important community assets to complete the vision for Bingara Gorge to create a world class residential estate featuring a Graham Marsh 18-hole golf course and club facilities,” Luke Hartman, owner of Metro Property Development said.
All 18 golf holes have been constructed with only the back nine currently in play. Construction will start on a golf bridge to link the front nine and back nine holes in the first half of this year with completion later in 2022.
Metro has previously completed the Strathfield Golf Club in New South Wales, is constructing the Adelaide Polo Club residential joint venture in the Adelaide Hills region.
The Feros Group will run the country club, comprising a restaurant and bar, outdoor bar area and internal function space. Designed by Sydney-based design practice H&E Architects, the venue will seat between 800 and 1,000 people. A development application is expected to be lodged in March.
Hartman said demand is outstripping supply for land in the south west.
“The Bingara Gorge land acquisition further adds to our land bank to take advantage of strong market conditions.”
Jeff Atkinson, project director for Metro, said the opportunity to acquire 900 development-approved land lots, in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing regions, is paying dividends. Since acquisition, over 200 land parcels have been sold valued at over $100 million to locals as well as broader western Sydney, inner Sydney suburbs and Sydney’s north west purchasers.
Over 450 land parcels are in the construction phase. Bingara Gorge is a 450-hectare site that will comprise 1,800 homes when completed in 2024. Over 200 hectares of open spaces, a golf course, playgrounds, tennis courts, walk and cycle paths, leisure centre, retail shops, childcare and primary school will feature in the development.
Metro currently has 25 projects underway with more acquisitions planned and will continue to restock in strategic growth corridors across Australia, he said.
Metro last year acquired over $600 million worth of new sites including Bingara Gorge, as well as an infill residential project known as Parade in Pemulwuy, a joint venture site with the Lower North Shore Catholic Parish of the Diocese of Broken Bay in Willoughby and an 8-star sustainability project in Melbourne’s Northcote.
